DHS Now Demanding Names and Phone Numbers of Social Media Users Critical of ICE

From [HERE] In a move that should send a chill down the spine of every American who still believes in the First and Fourth Amendments, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has officially weaponized the administrative subpoena to unmask and intimidate its online critics.

According to recent reports from mid-February 2026, the DHS has issued hundreds of these “shadow subpoenas” to tech giants including Google, Meta (Facebook/Instagram), Reddit, and Discord. The target? Accounts that document ICE raids, track agent locations in real-time, or—most disturbingly—simply voice criticism of the agency’s tactics.

For those unfamiliar with the terminology, an administrative subpoena is a tool that allows the state to bypass the judiciary entirely. Unlike a search warrant, which requires a judge to sign off based on “probable cause” of a crime, these subpoenas are issued by the executive branch itself.

DHS is reportedly leaning on 8 U.S.C. § 1225(d) and other customs-related authorities to demand sensitive subscriber data—names, IP addresses, and phone numbers—without ever having to prove to a court that a crime has been committed. While these tools were supposedly intended to track down human traffickers or customs violators, they are now being repurposed to silence neighborhood watch groups and peaceful dissenters. [MORE]